Vampire Power

Growing tired of wasting energy on vampire power suckers, AT&T introduced its new eco-friendly ZERO charger today. Just in time for a Spring gadget overhaul, this charger senses when a cell phone is not plugged in and shuts down automatically. The ZERO will stop pulling power and eliminate power waste (just like the concept Switch Outlet that lets you manually turn off the power that flows to your electronic devices) but you don't have to flip any switches or turn any dials — it does everything on its own. Plus, the USB connector ensures that you can use the ZERO for all of your USB-friendly gadget-charging needs.

The ZERO charger will be available in May, and you can sign up to be alerted when it hits the market.

We've talked a lot about vampire power — gadgets and appliances that are turned "off" but suck down electricity just because they're plugged in — and there's one electrical outlet that helps combat wattage use while you're out for the day. But what if you have several gadgets you want to control? Here's an idea — make a power strip with timers in the sockets so you can keep track of how long you actually use an appliance, and save money at the same time. The Wind Up Socket does just that — lets you count down the minutes (like a kitchen egg timer) until your electrical socket switches off.

Hear more about the Wind Up Socket when you read more

Vampire power month may be over (how appropriate that it was in October, no?), but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying to find ways to reduce our electric bills! We are living in a digital world, which means nearly everything needs to be juiced up to work. I've already got my laptop working overtime at the office and at home, so you can imagine that I'm a pretty powerful energy vampire on my own. But I wouldn't be if I had this outlet.

A concept design I found while cruising Yanko, the Switch outlet allows you to keep your appliances plugged in (no more unplugging your power strip), but with a simple rotation, it cuts off all power to your gadgets, so you aren't draining electricity when it's not needed. Way to be eco-friendly and efficient! Power vampires, be gone.

I already showed you ten vampire gadgets and appliances that bleed power when you're not home, and if you haven't taken my tips to heart just yet, you can now find out exactly how much cash you're losing with the Vampire Power Calculator.

Just enter in how many hours a week you use a given gadget, and the app will serve up a rundown on how much energy and money you're wasting each year, what kind of power vampire you are, and tips on how to stop the madness. Plus, there are fun quizzes and games to get you in line so your gadgets and appliances will stop sucking your wallet dry for good. And don't worry, if you're strapped for cash already, this app is totally free.